The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Rec Center asks for saved lids to save lives

Kathleen Guilfoyle worked as assistant director of Intramural Sports for 21 years until she lost her battle with breast cancer in 2003. Erin Castro, graduate assistant at the Recreation Center, remembers Guilfoyle as a very upbeat, very optimistic person.

"She was a positive influence. It was nice to know that somebody who was up here doing this job had such dedication," Castro said. "Working with her, you always had somebody by your side. She supported you in every way she could."

A year after her death, the Recreation Center is honoring Guilfoyle by collecting yogurt lids for Yoplait's "Save Lids to Save Lives" campaign. Donations will be taken through Dec. 10, and the money generated will go toward breast cancer research.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 215,990 new invasive cases are expected to occur among women in the United States this year.

The center said regular mammography tests are the best way to protect against breast cancer, because problems can be detected in the earliest stages, which are an average of one to three years before a lump is felt. Mammography also locates cancers too small to be noticed by clinical breast examinations.

Though breast cancer is more in common in women, the CDC said the illness could affect men too.

"It's amazing how many of us have been affected or have known people," Castro said. "It touches home for a lot of us."

Yoplait has sponsored "Save Lids to Save Lives" for the past seven years. In the annual campaign, the yogurt company will donate 10 cents for every retrieved pink lid to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Along with money generated from the lids, Yoplait will also give $900,000 to the cancer research organization.

The goal for this year is to total $1.2 million. Since implementing its campaign in 1997, Yoplait has raised approximately $14 million for breast cancer research.

For three years, Debbie Fraedrich, fitness instructor for the Recreation Center, has collected donations from her classes for "Save Lids to Save Lives." Through her drives for Yoplait, she said many people have given to the cause. She said some who did not eat yogurt opted to give money instead.

She said she encourages SIUC and other universities to "enlarge the scope" in order to help in the fight against breast cancer.

"So often we feel helpless," Fraedrich said. "But with this campaign, we can help. Perhaps what we are already eating could help contribute to a major cause."

Though she said it has been "challenging," Castro said the Recreation Center's effort, which started last week, has already received several donations.

"The more people you talk to, the more people really want to become a part of this," she said.

Cleaned yogurt lids may be dropped off at the Recreation Center. For more information, call 453-1263.

 

 

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